Crocker Farm Parent Guardian Organization: Supporting our children, teachers, and the Crocker Farm community through family events & activities, and through fundraising for field trips, classroom mini-grants, and more.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Last night, the Redistricting Sub-Committee presented a series of maps to the School Committee and public. There are 6 maps being considered for adoption. The final map will be selected and voted on at the next School Committee meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, October 27th at 7:00 PM in the ARHS Cafeteria. Parents are encouraged to review each map and provide feedback to the School Committee (schoolcommittee@arps.org). The presentation can be found at http://www.arps.org/files/Redistricting%20presentation10-22-2009_0.pdf.

The Counselors at ARMS will be presenting an educational talk/discussion session for the benefit of parents of middle school. The topic of the first talk will be on the social-emotional development in early adolescence and will be given on Thursday, November 19 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Middle School Library. The material for discussion will include social skills, parenting, keeping students safe in cyberspace, typical development, etc. This is a great way to understand the metamorphosis taking place in your adolescent child and how to deal with it. If you would like specific items to be discussed, please send your request to the FSP Co-Chair, Rama Janaswamy (email doctor_jey2000@yahoo.com), and he will make sure to pass them on to the Counselors ahead of the talk. All parents and families, including those of prospective middle-schoolers, are welcome.

The Crocker Farm Summer Read-a-thon Committee is pleased to announce that 35 students participated in this summer's reading fundraiser. These dedicated readers collected a total of $996, which will be divided up between teachers to use in the classroom. The trophy for most participants goes to the students currently in Second Grade. Great job reading Second Graders!!!

Please join us in congratulating the following Crocker Farm students:

First Name

Last Name

Current Grade

Amelia

Beigel

1

Hunter

Coy

1

Sam

Kleinman-Eddy

1

Garret

Warren

1

Rosie

Dinsmore

2

Fiona

McHale

2

Dylan

Peltier

2

Isabela

Shepard

2

Lucas

Morales-Fernandez

2

Lucy

Anderson

2

Derek

Sherwood

2

Eli

Slovin

2

Christina

Wehrli

2

Oliver

Noble

3

Jayden

Nambu

3

Ethan

Yu

3

Sadie

Blumenfeld

4

Jack

Dinsmore

4

Alberto

Morales-Fernandez

4

Bradley

Sherwood

4

Mitchell

Turner

4

Rebecca Tuthill

4

Julia

Jemsek

4

Mia

Rogers

4

Grace

Bertrand

5

Trentt

Coy

5

Maria

Wehrli

5

Abigail

Kleinman-Eddy

5

Delia

McHale

5

Andre

Shepard

5

Julia

Warren

5

Noah

Zobel

5

Emma Jo

Anderson

6

Zofia

Noble

6

Christine

Sherwood

6

Thanks go to the parents, teachers, school administrators, and generous donors who have made this fundraiser such a success. A special thanks goes to Bart’s Homemade Ice Cream of Amherst, for their generous donation of free ice cream coupons for participants.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Tomorrow (Thursday, October 22) and next Tuesday (October 27) are early release days to support parent-teacher conferences. Students will be dismissed at 1:20 PM on both days. Thank you for your cooperation on these dates.

There will be an important meeting of the Amherst School Committee on Thursday, October 22 at 7 pm in the High School Library. The agenda pertains strictly to the matter of redistricting our elementary attendance zones. The Redistricting Committee will be giving a presentation showing the variety of redistricting maps and how the Committee has responded to the concerns of the community after the two recent public forums. There will be an opportunity for public comment.

Join us for trivia, laughs, costumes, refreshments and raffles.Admission is free with donations to AEF welcome.

See our website for details: http://amhersteducationfoundation.org/ or contact Mary Donoghue at 253-7016 Aj.donoghue@verizon.net.All proceeds benefit the public schools of Amherst, Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Sixty elementary school students from Seibu Bunri School in Japan will arrive in the Northampton area Friday evening, 11/6. After a brief reception, they will spend Saturday and Sunday with their host families. On Monday, they will travel to Boston.The students need friendly folks to stay with! Can you help?($30 / night stipend is provided to help with expenses!)Students will be double-placed (two per home)

For more information, call Sheri Hall-Smith at 584-7294(413-695-0978-cell) orHallshs@aol.com

Sunday, October 18, 2009

The PGO is in the process of planning a Fall session of Wednesday Clubs! We know that there are lots of kids who are interested, but to make the program a success we need YOU! We're looking at a 4 week schedule (1:20 - 2:50 PM on Wednesday afternoons: Nov. 18, Dec. 2, 9, 16).

MORE CLUBS = MORE KIDS! Right now we only have 3 clubs scheduled… Knitting, Spanish Superheros and Fun with Food. That means we can only have about 30 children in clubs…Could you teach a club? Sure! How about Legos, Chess, Jump Rope, Exploring Nature, Writing or Book Club? The PGO will pay a stipend ($15/hour) for your time and even a little bit of money for supplies if you need them. And if you teach your child is guaranteed a spot in a club.

HOW DO I SIGN UP? Please let me know if you're interested & available ASAP so that we can finalize our plans! Contact Erika Zekos (CF PGO club coordinator) studiozed@comcast.net / 413.559.0224. Thanks!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Please be advised that an emergency meeting of the Redistricting Subcommittee was conducted at 1 pm on Friday, October 16 in order to review and consider comments made by the public and district staff at the Public Forum held at Crocker Farm School on Wednesday, October 14. The Subcommittee will make a presentation to the Amherst School Committee at a Special Meeting to be scheduled for Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m in the Amherst Regional High School library. The purpose of the meeting is for the Redistricting Subcommittee to review the redistricting process and maps with the Amherst School Committee. After the full School Committee has time for deliberation and discussion of the recommendation, there will be an opportunity for public comments. The School Committee will not take any action on the subcommittee's recommendation at this meeting. The vote is scheduled for the regular Amherst School Committee meeting on Tuesday, October 27th.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

My professor, Francine M. Deutsch (Department of Psychology), is studying how parents balance housework and childcare. We are particularly interested in finding families where fathers share the load of the household chores and parenting tasks. Participating couples will each take part in a 15-minute phone interview with a student research assistant.

We are looking for families in which:

Both spouses work at least 20 hours a week for pay

Both are native speakers

Both agree to participate in the interviews.

All the information from this study will be treated as strictly confidential, and your name will be kept separate from your data.

If you are interested in our study, please fill out the attached sign-up sheet. If you have any questions or would like to sign up later, please feel free to contact me at Fong Ta: ta20p@mtholyoke.edu or 413-230-6793.

The PGO is in the process of planning a Fall session of Wednesday Clubs! We know that there are lots of kids who are interested, but to make the program a success WE NEED CLUB LEADERS! We're looking at a 4 or 5 week schedule (1:20 - 2:50 PM on Wednesday afternoons in November and December. There is a small stipend for your time and even a little bit of money for supplies if you need them.

Last spring we had parents and community members teaching clubs focusing on Knitting, Chess, Science, Food, Spanish, Dancing and Art… What do you have to offer this time??? How about Legos, Jump Rope, Exploring Nature, Writing, Book Club?

If you are interested, but not available this fall, we are planning more sessions in winter & spring so don’t hesitate to get in touch. Please let me know if you're interested & available ASAP so that we can finalize our plans!

Monday, October 12, 2009

The ARPS Redistricting Committee will host the final public information sessions for all members of the community this WEDNESDAY. This is an important opportunity to learn about the plans for reorganizing the elementary schools within the Town of Amherst. The forum will be on Wednesday, October 14 at 7 pm at Crocker Farm. Come ask questions and offer your voice in this very important decision for our school district. Translators and babysitting will be provided.

* no child is on a bus more than 30 to 35 minutes* language clustering will not occur* the % of low income kids is 32.3% at WW, 34.8% at CF, and 35.2% at FR* the size of the schools is within 100 kids at each (359 at CF, 454 at FR, 440 at WW)* class sizes are still low (average of 19.9 at CF, 19.7 at FR, and 20 at WW)* the plan follows natural borders (e.g., main roads, railroad tracks), with the exception of two apartment complexes off of East Hadley Road (one will move to FR, one to WW)* kids at all schools are moving (100% at MM, 40% at CF, 20% at FR, 38% at WW).at 4:34 PM

Bring your sleeping bags or lawn chairs and join us in the cafeteria tonight for the PGO's first Movie Night of the Year! Admission is free and there will be cheap popcorn and drinks! We will be watching Trumpet of the Swan! Doors open at 6PM. The movie begins at 6:30 PM.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Please join us Friday night in the cafeteria for the 1st Movie Night of the School Year! We will be concluding our One Book, One School initiative by showing Trumpet of the Swan. Movie night refreshments for sale include popcorn (graciously donated by Cinemark Theaters in Hadley) as well as juice boxes and water. We also have great new speakers sure to reach the far end of the cafeteria! Doors open at 6:00 PM, movie starts at 6:30 PM. Please call Becky at 230-3306 if you have any questions.

You are cordially invited to the 2nd PGO meeting of the year tonight- Oct 8th from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM in the Community Room. Find out what the exciting happenings at CF and meet other parents. As always childcare and snacks are provided!

The ARPS Redistricting Committee will begin their series of public information sessions for all members of the community this week. This is an important opportunity to learn about the plans for reorganizing the elementary schools within the Town of Amherst. The first forum will be on Thursday, October 8 at 7 pm at Marks Meadow. The second will be on Wednesday, October 14 at 7 pm at Crocker Farm. Come ask questions and offer your voice in this very important decision for our school district. Translators and babysitting will be provided at each session.

* no child is on a bus more than 30 to 35 minutes * language clustering will not occur * the % of low income kids is 32.3% at WW, 34.8% at CF, and 35.2% at FR * the size of the schools is within 100 kids at each (359 at CF, 454 at FR, 440 at WW) * class sizes are still low (average of 19.9 at CF, 19.7 at FR, and 20 at WW) * the plan follows natural borders (e.g., main roads, railroad tracks), with the exception of two apartment complexes off of East Hadley Road (one will move to FR, one to WW) * kids at all schools are moving (100% at MM, 40% at CF, 20% at FR, 38% at WW).

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The PGO is looking for a few great babysitters for the October 14th Redistricting Meeting at Crocker Farm. If you have a name or two that you could share, the PGO is all ears! Please email names and contact information to crockerfarmpgo@gmail.com. Thanks!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Our community of Crocker Farm is doing an amazing job of composting and recycling for the last two years. We are about to begin construction for our very own animal proof compost bins outside as well. I am looking for volunteers to guide and assist students during breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, it will be for about 45 minutes or less (around 8:15-9:00). For lunch, we are in desperate need of help during last lunch(12:30- 1:00) on Wednesdays but if you are available on other days, that is appreciated as well. Please contact me at mastroiannir@arps.org so we can talk about your interest and availability. Thank you!

Friday, October 9th- Movie Night! Celebrate a final One Book, One School event in the CF cafeteria.We will watch Trumpet of the Swan. Doors open at 6PM, Movie at 6:30 PM Drinks and popcorn for sale. Bring a chair or sleeping bag!

Celebrate and support Amherst farms on the Town Common this Saturday, October 3rd from 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM. There will be Farm Tours, Entertainment, Children's Events, Local Foods and Exhibits. For more information, please visit www.amherstma.gov.

Free to Amherst residents (Proof of residency required)A fun-filled day at The Carle in celebration of Amherst's 250th Anniversary! Browse the galleries, create your own art, enjoy a film or performance in the Auditorium, participate in our 2:00 story time, and refuel in the Museum Café.

The Redistricting Subcommittee meeting scheduled for Friday, October 2 will now begin at 9:00 a.m. instead of 10:00 a.m. as originally planned. The meeting time was changed at the request of a subcommittee member due to a scheduling conflict. The meeting will take place in Room C-5A at Amherst Regional Middle School.

Parents and community members are encouraged to attend one, or both, of two public forums regarding redistricting plans for the Amherst elementary schools. The dates, times and locations are as follows: